Safety & Laws
Check out all of the laws and regulations here in the NH Fish & Game OHRV 2024-2025 Digest
Get educated on Rider Safety for all ages and vehicles:National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
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• Open containers of alcohol within any passenger area of an OHRV will be prohibited. (Effective September 10, 2019**)
• No person shall operate or be a passenger in a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) who is less than 18 years of age unless they are wearing a seat or safety belt which is properly adjusted and fastened, if the UTV is so equipped with safety belts. Helmets will still be required in addition to safety belts.
• No person shall operate a UTV while carrying a passenger less than 7 years of age unless such passenger is properly fastened and secured by a child restraint system in accordance with the safety standards approved by the United States Department of Transportation. Helmets will still be required in addition to a child restraint system. If the passenger is 57 inches or more in height, this provision shall not apply.
• The operator of an OHRV or snowmobile involved in an accident resulting in death or injury to a person or damage to property in excess of $1,000, or the owner of the OHRV having knowledge of the accident, should the operator be incapacitated, shall report the accident immediately to the nearest police officer or nearest police station and shall file a report of the accident with the NH Fish and Game Department and the NH Department of Safety within 5 days on forms prescribed by the NH Fish and Game Department.
• Blue and/or red colored lights shall only be used on OHRVs or snowmobiles owned or leased by state, county, municipal, or federal agencies. Does not apply to Taillights or brake lights.
• All OHRVs shall have at least one mirror showing the area to the rear of the OHRV. This shall not apply to trail bikes.
• The driver of any OHRV or snowmobile upon approaching, overtaking, or while following within a distance of approximately 150 feet of another vehicle or OHRV during the period from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise shall dim all originally equipped lights. The driver of any OHRV upon approaching, overtaking, or while following another vehicle or OHRV shall extinguish all aftermarket additional lighting at all times of the day or night. Aftermarket lighting shall be extinguished while operating upon any public way at all times of the day or night.
• All operators regardless of age shall wear eye protection unless the OHRV is equipped with a windshield or screen which protects the driver’s eyes and face when the driver is sitting erect.
Laws governing OHRVs and snowmobiles
Unlicensed riders with safety certificate accompanied by adult 25 + on Public roadways
A person operating an OHRV along the traveled portion of a public highway and who is not licensed to drive must be accompanied by a person who is at least 25 years of age and licensed to drive and must keep to the extreme right when operating.
Any person at least 12 years of age, who has successfully completed an approved snowmobile or OHRV training program, and who is operating an OHRV along the traveled portion of a public highway, where permitted, who is not licensed to drive shall be accompanied at all times by a person who is licensed to drive who is at least 25 years of age. The individual who is 25 or over shall be legally responsible and be liable according to the law for personal injury or property damage to others which may result from such operation by an unlicensed person. Operators of OHRVs using such highway, or portion thereof, shall keep to the extreme right and shall yield to all conventional motor vehicle traffic.
Laws relative to OHRV operation and license
The following OHRV and snowmobile offenses (effective July 2019) now carry a fine of $248.00:
• unregistered OHRV/snowmobile
• modified/loud exhaust
• operating without landowner permission
• speed 25 mph over the limit